Trichy: Farmers have urged the district administration to clean and desilt Kodingal and Vannankothu drainage canals as they are struggling to drain water from their lands due to overgrown vegetation and mudslides on the entire stretch. They also demanded the state government to release water from Mayanur barrage so that the farmers can cater their cattle and it will also recharge groundwater table for drinking purpose.The two drainage canals, which originate from Uyyakondan River at Pulivalam, merge with river Cauvery after flowing across a number of villages along with Kudamurutti River. These two canals usually carry the excess water flowing from Uyyakondan and Ramavathalai canal respectively during floods.As both the canals have been left unattended without any cleaning or desilting works for many years, the flood water flowing in the canals has been destroying the agricultural lands and residential areas in Kodiyalam, Pulivalam, Subburayampatti, Chinna Karuppur, Kuzhumani, Subbaiahpuram, Mekudi, Keezhpathu, Perur and Maruthandakuruchi. This is happening because both the bunds of the canals are damaged in many places, alleged Ayilai Sivasuriyan, district secretary of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam affiliated to CPI.As the bunds and beds are covered with vegetation, it affects the flow of water that should be drained in Cauvery. Every season, farmers and residents of these villages face flood threat due to non-maintenance of these canals, he added."A total of 500 acres of agriculture lands are affected during crop season, as no water can flow into the canals. However, during monsoons, the same canals turn into a threat to the residents of the villages located along the canal, as flood water would start to flow into the residential areas," he said.Sivasuriyan urged the district administration to do the needful to clean up and desilt the canals before monsoon sets in this year.He also appealed to the state government to release water from Mayanur barrage located in Karur district.

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